A Real-Life Treasure Hunt: Local Divers to Recover $3 Billion From Sunken World War II Ship off the Cape
by Lisa DeCanio In 1942, a British ship called the Port Nicholson, was traveling across the Atlantic from the Soviet Union to the United States. During its journey, the Port Nicholson sank at an unknown location after it was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. The clincher? The Port Nicholson was carrying $53 million in platinum when it sank. Today, that platinum is worth an estimated $3 billion, and a Boston-based crew plans on recovering the lost treasure, reports CBS Boston. The treasure-hunting crew of the Sea Hunter has spent the past three years locating the ship and planning the dive. The Port Nicholson lies about 50 miles off the coast of Provincetown, MA, 700 feet below sea level. The waters where the ship lies are incredibly choppy, so the dive will have to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Reefs, Reference, Report, Wrecks
Divers find large, unexplained object at bottom of Baltic Sea
By Eric Pfeiffer A team of salvage divers has discovered an unexplained object resting at the bottom of the Baltic Sea near Sweden. “This thing turned up. My first reaction was to tell the guys that we have a UFO here on the bottom,” said Peter Lindberg, the leader of the amateur treasure hunters. Sonar readings show that the mysterious object is about 60 meters across, or, about the size of a jumbo jet. And it’s not alone. Nearby on the sea floor is another, smaller object with a similar shape. Even more fascinating, both objects have “drag marks” behind them on the sea floor, stretching back more than 400 feet. “Could this be the Star Wars Millenium Falcon, a plug to an inner world or a marine version of Stonehenge?” asks CNN’s Brooke … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Report, Wrecks
10 new artificial reefs coming to Panama City Beach, Fla.
FELICIA KITZMILLER / News Herald Writer PANAMA CITY BEACH — Bay County has committed to build at least 10 new artificial reefs by the end of the summer and more are in the works. At their last meeting, county commissioners voted to accept a $60,000 grant from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to construct 10 new artificial reefs in an area approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about 10 nautical miles from the entrance to St. Andrew Bay at a depth of about 88 feet, according to a board memo. The reefs will augment an existing reef formed when the remnants of the old DuPont Bridge were sunk in that area. Each reef will be composed of four premanufactured concrete and steel pods arranged in grid pattern about 600 feet … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Events, Reefs, Reference, Report
Discussion to open cave diving at Wakulla
By Jennifer Portman Democrat senior writer CRAWFORDVILLE —Opinions were sharply divided at a public workshop Thursday night on whether recreational cave diving should be allowed at Wakulla Spring, the centerpiece of Wakulla Springs State Park. More than 200 people turned out to the Wakulla County Agriculture Extension Arena for the meeting hosted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to get input on a proposal to reverse a 26-year-old policy forbidding public diving in the 300-foot-deep first-magnitude spring. About 100 people filled out speaker cards and were given about a minute each to make their pitches — both for and against the plan — to officials with DEP’s Division of Parks and Recreation. Many of those opposed to the idea wore badges and held small signs that read: “No more threats to Wakulla Spring.” “It may … Read entire article »
Administration unveils sweeping plan to protect the country’s oceans
By Andrew Restuccia The Obama administration unveiled on Thursday a federal strategy for protecting the country’s oceans that calls for improving oil-spill response capabilities in the Arctic and managing the effects of climate change. The draft plan outlines a series of steps that various federal agencies will take to meet the goals of a 2010 executive order that called for ensuring the “protection, maintenance, and restoration” of the oceans. “This action plan will help focus our resources on actions that will enhance the stewardship of coastal and marine resources on which so many communities, small businesses, and American jobs depend,” Nancy Sutley, the head of the Council on Environmental Quality and the co-chairwoman of the National Ocean Council, said in a statement. The plan outlines a strategy for improving federal agencies’ ability to respond … Read entire article »
Filed under: Events, Open Water, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report
Public hearing on whether or not to open the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park to cave divers
On January 19th, the Florida Park Service will be hosting a public hearing on whether or not to open the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park to cave divers (see the Media Advisory). Currently, diving access to Wakulla Springs has only been through government permit, with few permits having been applied for and granted. As a result, access to Wakulla Springs has largely been closed to technical divers irrespective of training organization or qualifications. If potential future access is of interest to you, than we urge you to attend the hearing in support of opening Wakulla Springs to properly trained and certified technical cave divers, as well as submitting your opinions in writing prior to the meeting (the address for written submissions is included in the below Media Advisory). If you … Read entire article »
Hybrid sharks found in Australian waters
SCIENTISTS have found the world’s first hybrid sharks in Australian waters. 57 hybrids found in waters along east coast They are cross between two distinct species A sign sharks are adapting to climate change Leading researchers in marine biology discovered 57 animals along a 2000 km stretch from Queensland to NSW. The predators are a cross between the common blacktip shark and Australian blacktip shark, two related but genetically distinct species. The scientists say interbreeding between the two shark species is a sign the animals are adapting to climate change. They also warn that hybridisation could make the sharks stronger. Dr Jennifer Ovenden, of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, said: “Hybridization could enable the sharks to adapt to environmental change as the smaller Australian black tip currently favours tropical waters in the north while the … Read entire article »
Bali – Alarming Shark Hunts
Desy Nurhayati The Jakarta Post Marine scientists have announced that shark hunting in waters offshore Bali and surrounding areas has reached an alarming rate, threatening the animal’s population. Ketut Sarjana Putra, marine director of Conservation International Indonesia (CII), said on Tuesday that the massive catches had taken place in the waters around Nusa Penida, some six kilometers to the north of the island and around the Tulamben area. “Many shark species are endangered, and this excessive degree of hunting could threaten their population, as most of the sharks that are caught are adult females,” he said. He explained that the hunt did not target certain species of sharks. However, the primary species that is targeted around Bali is the thresher shark. Several months ago, a team from CII held a marine survey in waters around Bali. During their 200 hours of diving, they only found three sharks. It … Read entire article »
Paradise Springs Dec 17, 2011
Today I visited Paradise Springs. I arrive at 7:55 to find the gate open. I drive up to the house to check in. I am asked “Do you have a dive buddy?” I answer ‘No.’ I am now told no solo diving in Paradise Springs. Bong! After a 2.5 hour drive, I can’t be the first in the water to take pictures, before it gets all silted up. So what do I do? I wait for other divers to arrive and while waiting, I get suited up in the dry suit, finish setting up the camera and chat with the owner. Then, at last, a vehicle with two divers drive up. I jump in my truck and head down at the site before the owner could blink. It takes me about … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cavern, Open Water, Photography, Report, Trip Report
Conversations with History: Ocean Voyages with Sylvia Earle
I present to you Dr. Sylvia Earle … Read entire article »
Filed under: Conservation, Diver, Featured, Promotions, Reference, Report, Training
Greenland Shark
A daredevil photographer went to extraordinary lengths to photograph these rarely seen sharks, which look like they have been etched from stone. These incredible Greenland sharks can survive for more than 200 years at depths of up to 600 metres under Arctic ice. Bigger than the notorious great white, they grow to 23-feet long and are so fearsome they have even been known to eat polar bears. They live further north than any other shark species and can swim in waters where temperatures plummet to just one degree celsius. Doug Perrine had a close encounter with the elusive creatures when they ventured into the warmer waters of the St Lawrence River in North America, hunting for food. The sharks usually eat large seals but have even been known to polish off polar bears and reindeer. But … Read entire article »
Giant plumes of methane bubbling to surface of Arctic Ocean
By Eric Pfeiffer Russian scientists have discovered hundreds of plumes of methane gas, some 1,000 meters in diameter, bubbling to the surface of the Arctic Ocean. Scientists are concerned that as the Arctic Shelfrecedes, the unprecedented levels of gas released could greatly accelerate global climate change. Igor Semiletov of the Russian Academy of Sciences tells the UK’s Independent that the plumes of methane, a gas 20 times as harmful as carbon dioxide, have shocked scientists who have been studying the region for decades. “Earlier we found torch-like structures like this but they were only tens of meters in diameter,” he said. “This is the first time that we’ve found continuous, powerful and impressive seeping structures, more than 1,000 metres in diameter. It’s amazing.” Semiletov said that while his research team has discovered more … Read entire article »
Filed under: Report
Converging Concepts 3D
For the last 30 years Marty and Barb Mueller (MSM Design INC.) have been creating fresh solutions to the design and building of motion picture cameras. After winning recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Fulfilling a dream of building 3D cameras for space and then creating a smaller lighter 3D film camera for terrestrial projects, they took a break. Ideas though don’t seem to go on vacation. After a conversation with long time collaborator Sean Phillips, design began on a new light weight, electronically precise adjustable, 3D Rig. Versatile in its controls and the ability to mount many different digital cameras, the new CC3D-GEN I will meet the needs of the creative 3D Filmmaker. Its user friendly, like the people who built it! 12 Reasons You Will … Read entire article »
Filed under: 3D, Report, Trip Report, Video